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House Reduction of Drug Sentencing Disparity

HeadlineJul 29, 2010

On Capitol Hill, the House has approved a measure that would reduce the disparity in sentencing for possession of crack and powder cocaine. Under current laws, individuals convicted of crack cocaine possession are given the same mandatory sentence as someone with 100 times more powder cocaine. The new law would reduce that ratio to eighteen to one. The Senate passed the measure in March. Drug reform advocates have called for the disparity to be completely eliminated.

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